Has the church been grafted in Israel’s place?

This is a complex theological question that has been debated for centuries. At the heart of the matter is the relationship between the church (made up of both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus) and Israel (the Jewish people, especially those who reject Jesus as Messiah). There are several key biblical passages that inform this discussion.

Romans 9-11

The most comprehensive New Testament teaching on this topic is found in Romans 9-11. In Romans 9, Paul expresses his grief over the fact that so many of his fellow Jews have rejected Jesus. He affirms that Israel still has a unique status before God and important future purpose in His plan (Romans 9:3-5). In Romans 10, Paul explains that Jews must accept Jesus by faith just like Gentiles. In Romans 11, Paul uses an olive tree metaphor to make several important points:

• God has not rejected His people Israel or His covenants with them (Romans 11:1-2).
• There is a “remnant” of Jews who have believed in Jesus by faith (Romans 11:5).
• Israel’s rejection of Jesus has opened the door of salvation for Gentiles (Romans 11:11-12).
• Gentile believers are like “wild olive shoots” that have been grafted into the olive tree, which represents the place of blessing (Romans 11:17-24).
• God still has plans to show mercy to ethnic Israel in the future when their “fullness” will come in (Romans 11:12, 15, 25-27).

This passage makes it clear that while Gentiles have been included in the people of God through faith in Jesus, God is not done with Israel. He still has promises to fulfill specifically to ethnic Jews in the end times after “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).

Ephesians 2-3

Ephesians 2 also addresses this topic. It describes how Gentiles have been “brought near” to God through Jesus and are no longer excluded as “foreigners and strangers” (Ephesians 2:11-22). Both Jew and Gentile are reconciled to God through the cross to become one new people, the church. But the next chapter indicates that this inclusion of Gentiles was a “mystery” previously hidden that is now revealed (Ephesians 3:2-6). Nowhere does it suggest that the church has permanently replaced or fulfilled God’s purposes for Israel.

1 Peter 2:4-10

1 Peter 2 describes believers in Jesus as God’s “living stones” being built into a “spiritual house” with Jesus as the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-8). It uses Old Testament language originally applied to Israel, calling them a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). Some see this as evidence that the church has become the “new Israel.” However, the passage does not actually make this claim or say God has no future plans for ethnic Israel. Applying covenant language to the multinational church does not mean it has replaced ethnic Israel.

Galatians 6:16

In Galatians 6:16, Paul refers to the church as the “Israel of God.” Some believe this means the church is now the true Israel. However, Paul may have been simply implying that true Jews are those who have accepted Jesus by faith. In the previous verse, he referred to “the Israel of God” as separate from “as many as walk according to this rule” (meaning gentiles) (Galatians 6:16). Also, elsewhere Paul affirms unbelieving Jews are still Israelites (Romans 11:1; 9:3-4; 2 Corinthians 11:22).

Acts 15

At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, it was established that Gentile believers in Jesus do not need to become proselytes to Judaism and keep the Mosaic Law. Some argue this separates Christianity from its Jewish roots. But the apostles still affirmed the Old Testament as inspired Scripture (Acts 15:15-18). And Paul regularly attended synagogues and based his gospel on the Scriptures. Gentiles joining God’s people through Jesus did not remove His ongoing purposes for Israel.

Jesus and the Apostles Affirmed Israel’s Future

In addition to these key passages, the overall perspective of Jesus and the apostles affirms God’s ongoing covenant faithfulness to Israel:

• Jesus said His coming did not annul the Law but rather fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17-19).
• Jesus said salvation is “from the Jews” (John 4:22) and forbade his disciples from taking the gospel to Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6).
• Jesus lamented that Israel would not see Him again until they say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:37-39).
• The apostles eagerly awaited the future salvation of Israel (Acts 1:6; 3:19-21; 26:6-7).
• Numerous Old Testament prophecies predict a future restoration of Israel (Jeremiah 30:3; Ezekiel 36:24-28; 37:21-22).

The New Testament writers interpreted Jesus’ coming as the fulfillment, not the cancellation, of Old Testament promises to Israel. While opening the door for Gentiles to be saved, they did not teach that God was done with ethnic Israel.

God’s Covenants with Israel Have Not Been Fulfilled

Many of the covenants God made with Israel have stipulations and promises that have not yet been fulfilled historically. These include:

• The Abrahamic Covenant promised Israel a land, a great nation, and a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). While fulfilled partially, Israel does not currently possess all the Promised Land God pledged. And the ultimate blessing to all nations awaits future fulfillment.
• The Land Covenant promised Israel permanent possession of the land (Deuteronomy 30:1-9). Israel has been dispossessed of this land repeatedly over history, indicating this has not yet been fulfilled.
• The Davidic Covenant promised an heir of David would reign on the throne of Israel forever, which was not fulfilled during Jesus’ earthly ministry (2 Samuel 7:8-16).
• The New Covenant promised Israel a national salvation and forgiveness of sin in the end times (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This was inaugurated by Jesus but never fulfilled for national Israel as a whole.

The church’s experience of the blessings of salvation by faith does not exhaust God’s covenant promises to Israel. A future restoration seems required.

New Testament Warnings against Replacement Theology

Several New Testament passages contain warnings that seem to forbid writing off Israel altogether in favor of the church. For example:

• In Romans 11, Paul warned Gentiles not to become arrogant and boast over the natural branches (Israel), but to fear God knowing they can be cut off also (Romans 11:17-21).
• In Revelation, the Bible warns against those who claim to be Jews but are not (Revelation 2:9; 3:9). True Israel remains in God’s plan.

These warnings discourage Gentile believers from assuming that God is completely finished with Israel and the church has somehow replaced or become Israel. Instead, they indicate that both groups have distinct identities and roles in God’s eternal plan.

Fulfillment of End Times Bible Prophecy Requires Israel’s Restoration

Many end times Bible prophecies depict God restoring Israel and fulfilling original covenant promises. A brief survey of some key passages indicates God’s future plans for Israel:

• Ezekiel predicts a future restoration of Israel to their land (Ezekiel 34:13; 36:24; 37:21-22).
• Jeremiah says God will make a new covenant with Israel in the last days (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
• Zechariah says Jerusalem will be besieged just before the Lord returns to deliver them (Zechariah 12-14).
• Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy says Israel’s salvation will come after 69 weeks, with 1 final week of tribulation still in the future (Daniel 9:20-27).
• Jesus predicts an end times desecration of the temple just before His return (Matthew 24:15-21).
• Revelation speaks of 144,000 Israelites sealed from every tribe (Revelation 7:1-8) and depicts Jesus returning to deliver Israel at Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-16).

The consistent message of end times prophecy is that God is not yet finished with Israel according to the flesh. Many promises remain to be fulfilled literally, requiring the restoration of Israel prior to Jesus’ second coming.

Evidence for Israel’s Future Restoration

Several significant evidences also point to Israel’s promised restoration in the future:

• The preservation of Israel throughout history despite repeated persecutions and attempts to destroy them.
• Israel’s return to the Promised Land in 1948 after nearly 2000 years of exile.
• Jerusalem being recaptured by Israel in 1967.
• Israel’s blossoming agriculturally and economically into one of the world’s leading nations.
• Increasing openness among young Israelis to the gospel and identification as Messianic believers.

Rather than evidence that God is done with Israel, their ongoing preservation and restoration to the land in modern times aligns with biblical prophecy about the end times.

Key Differences Between Israel and the Church

Despite areas of overlap, Israel and the church have a number of key distinctions:

• Israel is an ethnic nation, whereas the church is multinational.
• Israel existed in the Old Testament, while the church was born in the New Testament.
• Israel was based on the Mosaic Covenant, the church on the New Covenant.
• Israel’s purposes were earthly, while the church has a heavenly calling.
• Israel’s outlook was predominantly on the age to come, the church on the present age.
• The church is called the body and bride of Christ, terminology never applied to Israel.

These distinctions support the view that God has separate covenant purposes for Israel and the church which will both come to pass despite their differences.

Summary of the Biblical View

In summary, the New Testament does not teach that the church has permanently replaced or fulfilled God’s covenant promises to Israel. Several future events involving Israel must occur for those covenants to be complete:

• The regathering of all Israel to their land (Isaiah 11:12).
• The removal of Israel’s spiritual blindness to recognize Jesus as Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).
• The repentance and salvation of Israel (Romans 11:25-27).
• The glorification and final restoration of Israel (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Rather than replacement, the biblical view is that the church expands God’s kingdom work but does not eradicate His unique plans for ethnic Israel. God graciously included Gentiles when Israel rejected the Messiah, but He did not repudiate His covenant promises.

In the end times, God will restore Israel, fulfill the remaining covenants, unite Jew and Gentile in the Messiah’s kingdom, and bring His plans for both groups to completion for His glory.